Method and apparatus for applying orthodontic brackets and the like

ABSTRACT

An orthodontic method and apparatus wherein a dental cast of a patient has detachably applied thereto at locations selected by the orthodontist a plurality of brackets, and the like, and a positioner is provided which captures the brackets in their proper position and transfers the brackets so positioned to the patient&#39;&#39;s teeth for securement thereto.

ited States Patent [191 Cohen et al.

[ June 12, 1973 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ORTHODONTICBRACKETS AND THE LIKE [76] Inventors: Morton Cohen, Fox Pavilion, Suite604, J enkintown, Pa.; Elliott Silverman, 4829 Atlantic Avenue, Ventnor,NJ.

[22] Filed: Mar. 22, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 236,821

[52] US. Cl 32/14 B [51] Int. Cl A6lc 7/00 [58] Field of Search 32/14[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 646,629 4/1900 Sugatt 32/l4B 2,479,780 8/1949 Remensnyder 32/14 B Primary ExaminerLouis G. ManceneAssistant Examiner-J. Q. Lever Attorney-Robert K. Youtie [57] ABSTRACTAn orthodontic method and apparatus wherein a dental cast of a patienthas detachably applied thereto at locations selected by the orthodontista plurality of brackets, and the like, and a positioner is providedwhich captures the brackets in their proper position and transfers thebrackets so positioned to the patients teeth for securement thereto.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJUNI 21m FIG. 2

FIG. 6

FIG. 3

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS AND THE LIKEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known to those versed inorthodontics, initial positioning and application of the brackets, molartubes, and the like, (all of which will hereinafter be referred tocomprehensively as brackets), is a tedious and time-consuming procedure,and especially difficult as the patients are usually youngsters. Whilethere is presently an increase in the use of chemical adhesives forsecuring brackets to patients teeth, which procedure is considerablyadvantageous to the patient over the more conventional use of bandsabout the teeth, the positioning and effective securement of adhesivelyfastened brackets also presents considerable problems in delicatepositioning and retention in position during the curing of the adhesive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an important object of the presentinvention to provide an orthodontic method and apparatus whichconsiderably simplifies the application of orthodontic brackets topatients teeth, substantially reducing the time required for thecomplete operation, and locates the brackets with enhanced precision andaccuracy over previous methods.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an orthodonticmethod and apparatus of the type described which is usable in conjuctionwith tooth bands or direct adhesive securement of brackets to the teeth.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anorthodontic method and apparatus having the advantageous characteristicsmentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is more comfortable to thepatient, quicker and easier for the orthodontist, and which requiresonly inexpensive materials for its practice.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations and arrangements of parts and method steps, and which willbe exemplified in the following description, and of which the scope willbe indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view showinga dental cast having orthodontic brackets temporarily applied theretofor use in practice of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing the dental castand a positioner or mold having been applied to the dental cast, thepositioner being shown in phantom withdrawn from the dental cast.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing the dental castand positioner, the latter being shown partially in section and ashaving been removed from the dental cast.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing the positioner or mold apartfrom the dental cast.

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view showing the positioner ofFIGS. 3 and 4 as applied to the patients teeth.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating thepositioner having been removed from the patients teeth while theorthodontic brackets remain positioned on the teeth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a dental cast isthere generally designated 10, which, of itself, may be conventional,being formed of plaster to accurately simulate the gums and teeth of apatient. Thus, the dental cast 10 includes a base part 11, a gumsimulating region 12 extending from the base, and simulated teeth 13projecting from the gum simulating region 12. Thus, the simulated teeth13 and gum region 12 are an accurate model of the patient.

With the dental cast 10, the orthodontist may determine the optimumlocations and arrangements of dental brackets. That is, the orthodontistmay choose the proper type of bracket and select an optimal location andarrangement on the teeth. Thus, it will be seen that certain of theteeth 13 carry brackets 14, as selectively positioned on the teeth. Thebrackets 14 on the teeth 13 of the dental cast 12 are detachably orremovably positioned, as by wax, a tacky adhesive, or other suitablemeans.

With the brackets 14 selectively positioned and detachably secured tothe dental cast teeth 13, a quantity of molding material in a plasticcondition is conformably applied to the teeth 13, brackets 14, andadjacent portions of the gum simulating region 12. The molding materialmay be of any suitable type, and it has been found satisfactory toemploy thermoplastic material in a heated or plastic condition forconvenient moldability into conforming engagement with the cast teeth13, brackets 14 and adjacent portions of gum region 12. The moldedmaterial is shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 as a mold 15, having beenapplied into the abovedescribed conforming engagement while in a plasticstate. Upon curing or hardening, the mold 15 is of a flexible,self-sustaining, resilient character and has been molded into positive,capturing engagement with the brackets 14. For example, the material ofmold 15 extends into undercuts of the brackets 14 so as to capture andreleasably retain the latter.

Hence, upon withdrawal of the mold 15 from the dental cast 10, as to thephantom position shown in FIG. 2, the brackets 14 are removed from thedental cast teeth 13 by the positive action of the mold. That is, thebrackets 14 are retained by the mold 15 upon its removal from the dentalcast 10, the temporary retaining means employed to position the bracketsbeing insufficient to retain the brackets against the positivewithdrawing force of the mold 15. The mold 15 is shown in detail in FIG.3, partly in section, after removal from the dental cast 10. It willthere be observed that the mold 15 has captured interiorly thereof thebrackets 14, the latter being releasably but positively retained inposition within the mold by engagement of the mold material in undercutsof the brackets.

A top perspective view of the mold 15 is shown in FIG. 4, and the mold,containing the captive brackets 14, is safely retained, apart from thedental cast 10 for actual use in the patients mouth. That is, as willappear more fully hereinafter, the mold 15 serves as a transfer devicefor positioning or transferring the positioning of the brackets 14 fromthe dental cast teeth 13 to the teeth of the patient. The mold 15 istherefore also called a positioner.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the mold or positioner 15 is shown located inconforming engagement with the patients teeth and the adjacent gumportion 21.

Prior to the actual positioning shown in FIG. 5, the patients teeth 20are dried, or otherwise prepared to receive a chemical adhesive, and theadhesive is placed on either or both of the brackets 14 or patientsteeth 20. The positioner or mold 15 and the captive brackets 14 are thenpositioned as shown in FIG. 5, with the brackets 14 properly located infacing relation with respective teeth, and the positioner held in placeuntil the secured adhesive has cured.

' After curing or setting of the adhesive to firmly fasten the brackets14 to the patients teeth 20, the positioner or mold 15 is withdrawn fromthe conforming engagement of FIG. 5, as in the direction of the arrowsin FIG. 6. The positioner or mold 15 may be suitably flexed, asrequired, to release the brackets, which are now fixedly secured intheir precise selected'positions on the respective teeth, as shown inFIG. 6. Necessary wiring and other orthodontic procedures may now beperformed.

While the method and apparatus of the present invention have beenillustrated and described hereinbefore in conjunction with directadhesive securement of brackets to teeth, it is appreciated that theteeth may be provided with circumposed bands, in the conventionalmanner, and the brackets subsequently secured to the bands in accordancewith the teachings of the instant invention, if desired. That is, theinstant method and apparatus may be employed to accurately position andsecure orthodontic brackets either directly to the patients teeth or tobands provided on the teeth.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides ahighly improved method and apparatus for applying orthodontic brackets,and the like, to a patients teeth, in accurately positioned relation,for use in conjunction with other orthodontic procedures, and whichotherwise fully accomplishes its intended ob- 'ects. J Although thepresent invention has been described in some detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it isunderstood that certain changes and modifications may be made within thespirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an orthodontic method, the steps which comprise: making a dentalcast of the patient, selectively positioning and detachably applyingbrackets to the dental cast positioned as desired on the patients teeth,applying a molding material into conforming engagebrackets relative tothe teeth, securing the positioned brackets to the teeth, and removingthe mold from the teeth while leaving the brackets secured,

2. The orthodontic method according to claim 1, further characterized ineffecting said detachable application by interposing a tacky materialbetween said brackets and cast.

3. The orthodontic method according to claim 1, further characterized indrying said teeth before applying said mold and brackets.

4. An orthodontic method according to claim 1, wherein said moldingmaterial is thermoplastic, and further characterized in heating saidthermoplastic molding material before said applying step.

5. An orthodontic method according to claim 1, further characterized inchemically securing said brackets to the teeth.

6. An orthodontic method according to claim 1, further characterized inmechanically securing said brackets to the teeth.

7. An orthodontic method according to claim 6, further characterized inapplying bands to the teeth before applying said mold and brackets, andsecuring said brackets to the bands for securement to the teeth.

8. Orthodontic apparatus comprising, in combination, a dental cast of apatient, a plurality of brackets removably applied to the teeth of saiddental cast at selected locations thereon, a positioner of resilientlyflexible material in conforming engagement with said dental cast teethand applied brackets for removal together with said brackets from saidteeth, said positioner with said brackets being conformably engageablewith the patients teeth to selectively locate the brackets in facingrelation with the patients teeth, and adhesive interposed between thebrackets and patients teeth for effecting securement therebetween,whereby said positioner is removable from the patients teeth whileleaving the brackets selectively located on the patients teeth.

9. Orthodontic apparatus according to claim 8, said positioner engagingin undercut regions of said brackets to capture the brackets for removalfrom the dental cast and enabling separation of the positioner from thebrackets on the patients teeth.

10. Orthodontic apparatus according to claim 8, in combination withbands circumposed about the patients teeth and secured to the bracketsby said adhesive.

1. In an orthodontic method, the steps which comprise: making a dentalcast of the patient, selectively positioning and detachably applyingbrackets to the dental cast positioned as desired on the patient''steeth, applying a molding material into conforming engagement with thedental cast and brackets to define a mold which assumes theconfiguration of the dental cast and captures the brackets, removing themold and captured brackets from the dental cast, applying said mold andbrackets to the patient''s teeth to properly position the bracketsrelative to the teeth, securing the positioned brackets to the teeth,and removing the mold from the teeth while leaving the brackets secured.2. The orthodontic method according to claim 1, further characterized ineffecting said detachable application by interposing a tacky materialbetween said brackets and cast.
 3. The orthodontic method according toclaim 1, further characterized in drying said teeth before applying saidmold and brackets.
 4. An orthodontic method according to claim 1,wherein said molding material is thermoplastic, and furthercharacterized in heating said thermoplastic molding material before saidapplying step.
 5. An orthodontic method according to claim 1, furthercharacterized in chemically securing said brackets to the teeth.
 6. Anorthodontic method according to claim 1, further characterized inmechanically securing said brackets to the teeth.
 7. An orthodonticmethod according to claim 6, further characterized in applying bands tothe teeth before applying said mold and brackets, and securing saidbrackets to the bands for securement to the teeth.
 8. Orthodonticapparatus comprising, in combination, a dental cast of a patient, aplurality of brackets removably applied to the teeth of said dental castat selected locations thereon, a positioner of resiliently flexiblematerial in conforming engagement with said dental cast teeth andapplied brackets for removal together with said brackets from saidteeth, said positioner with said brackets being conformably engageablewith the patient''s teeth to selectively locate the brackets in facingrelation with the patient''s teeth, and adhesive interposed between thebrackets and patient''s teeth for effecting securement therebetween,whereby said positioner is removable from the patienT''s teeth whileleaving the brackets selectively located on the patient''s teeth. 9.Orthodontic apparatus according to claim 8, said positioner engaging inundercut regions of said brackets to capture the brackets for removalfrom the dental cast and enabling separation of the positioner from thebrackets on the patient''s teeth.
 10. Orthodontic apparatus according toclaim 8, in combination with bands circumposed about the patient''steeth and secured to the brackets by said adhesive.